J1 - Synagogue & Worship

Question 1

What is a Synagogue? [2]

Answer 1

• Jewish place of worship. [1]
• The word ‘Synagogue’ has Greek origins, it means assembly or place of assembly. Synagogues pre-date the destruction of the Temple in 70AD. Used for when people were too far away from the Temple to travel for worship. [1]

Question 2

What is the Ark? [3]

Answer 2

• The Ark is also called Aron ha-Kodesh[1]
• One of the most important parts of the synagogue because it holds the Torah scrolls when they are not being used.[2]

Question 3

What are the Torah scrolls?

Answer 3

• Sefer Torah, in Hebrew, written by hand and made of natural materials, treated with great respect

Question 4

Menorah

Answer 4

• seven - branched lampstand that burned day and night in the temple.

Question 5

Hanukkiah

Answer 5

• Nine branched lampstand or candelabra which is lit during the festival of Hanukkah

Question 6

Ner Tamid [3]

Answer 6

• Ner Tamid means Eternal Light. [1]
• A lamp that always burns at the front of the synagogue, usually over the doors of the ark. [1]
• Represents the menorah that was permanently alight in the Temple and God’s Presence. [1]

Question 7

Star of David

Answer 7

• probably the most common Jewish symbol. Sometimes called the Shield of David. Sometimes seen outside a Synagogue

Question 8

Bimah

Answer 8

Where the Torah scrolls are unrolled to be read

Question 9

Yad

Answer 9

follows the words on the Torah scrolls. Shaped like a pointing hand

Question 10

Rabbi

Answer 10

means ‘teacher’ and has the responsibility to teach the Torah to the congregation, sometimes runs mid-week classes at the synagogue

Question 11

Hazzan/Chazzan

Answer 11

means ‘cantor’ or ‘singer’ and is the person who leads the prayers and hymns in a synagogue.

Question 12

Amud/lectern

Answer 12

a smaller reading desk used to place notes on

Question 13

Women’s gallery

Answer 13

Orthodox and Conservative Jews will separate men and women during services to concentrate on worship, and women often sit upstairs in a gallery or downstairs in a screened off section. The barrier is called a mechitzah

Question 14

Beit Knesset

Answer 14

means ‘House of Gathering’ and shows that there is a great significance place on community and family.

Question 15

Shul

Answer 15

School, another name for the synagogue

Question 16

Beit Tefilah

Answer 16

means ‘House of Prayer’ and shows that they celebrate things in the Synagogue, such as Shabbat services, festivals like Pesach and Yom Kippur, Key rites of passage such as Bar Mitzvah

Question 17

Beit Midrash

Answer 17

means ‘House of Learning’

Question 18

Orthodox Judaism

Answer 18

Judaism and Jewish communities that try to stick to the law as laid out in the torah, they do not change or adapt the laws.

Question 19

Reform Judaism

Answer 19

These communities will adapt the law of the Torah more to fit with modern society.

Question 20

The Minyan

Answer 20

many of the prayers that take place at the Synagogue are required to be performed by what is known as the Minyan. This is a minimum of 10 adult Jews.

Question 21

Order of the structure of a Synagogue service

Answer 21

Introductory prayers
Barechu
Reciting the Shema
Blessing of the Shema
Amidah
Reading of the Torah
Concluding Prayers

Question 22

Introductory prayers

Answer 22

the content of these prayers varies depending on the time of the day and the time of year or festival being celebrated

Question 23

Barechu

Answer 23

this is the call to worship and this is the official start of the service

Question 24

Reciting the Shema

Answer 24

The worshippers will say this statement of faith. It is considered the most important in Jewish belief

Question 25

Blessing of the Shema

Answer 25

Prayers are said on the themes of creation, revelation, and redemption. They celebrate the Hebrews being delivered from slavery in Egypt, the giving of the Torah and the future coming of the Messiah.

Question 26

Amidah

Answer 26

During this part of the service the worshippers will say private prayers from the Siddur. On weekday services the prayers include; praises of God, petitions and prayers of thanksgiving. If it is shabbat or a festival there will be no petitions, they are replaced by prayers known as ‘sanctification of the day’

Question 27

Reading of the Torah

Answer 27

A member of the congregation reads from the torah and the Rabbi may then teach about and explain the reading.

Question 28

Concluding prayers

Answer 28

this begins with the Aleinu, this is the worshippers praying for a time when no idolatry exists and God is worshipped by all. On Shabbat a prayer called Kaddish is also said. This prayer anticipates the Messianic Age. Finally, a song is sung.

Question 29

Types of Worship in the synagogue

Answer 29

daily service
festivals
marriage
Holocaust memorial
Shabbat services
funeral
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
prayers for the sick etc
study

Question 30

Worship in the home

Answer 30

circumcision
festivals
children’s prayer
Shabbat
meals (thanksgiving)
Mourning period
dedication of the home
prayers for the sick etc
study

Question 31

the Shema

Answer 31

declaration of faith affirming the monotheistic belief of Judaism, words come from Deuteronomy 6:4, start of all Jewish prayers

Question 32

Amidah

Answer 32

means ‘standing prayer’, 19 blessings - first 3 praise God and ask for his mercy, middle 13 ask for God’s help, final 3 thank God. ‘most important prayer’ of weekday synagogue services, said by everyone, may be led by the Hazzan separately

Question 33

Kaddish

Answer 33

is a ‘doxology’ - a hymn of praise to god. it ends the main section of the synagogue services, usually recited in Aramaic

Question 34

Aleinu

Answer 34

means ‘upon us’ focusing on obligation or duty of Jewish people to praise God, focuses on the hope that the one true God will be worshipped by all, usually part of the closing prayers of Jewish services.